Momentous year: Houston's gay community and supporters have a lot to celebrate

Houston's gay community and supporters have a lot to celebrate.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE |
June 26, 2010

From its inception in 1979, the Pride Houston parade and related festivities have provided a rallying point for equal rights for the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered citizens. Back then, the community's political muscle was largely limited to supporting sympathetic municipal candidates, such as Kathy Whitmire, who would be elected the first female mayor of Houston two years later with strong gay backing.

How things have changed in three decades. The city elected its second woman and first openly gay mayor last year. Former council member and controller Annise Parker is also the first gay mayor of a major U.S. city. She will be the community grand marshal in tonight's parade, sharing the spotlight with cable executive Andy Cohen of Bravo. The parade kicks off at 8:45 p.m. in the Montrose on lower Westheimer between Dunlavy and Crocker and will feature a hundred floats and vehicles.

The event has grown to the point it is the second-largest parade in Houston annually, drawing crowds in excess of 150,000. It is one of the ten biggest events in Houston this year, according to the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau, and among the largest gay pride celebrations in the nation. The theme of this year's event is "Pride Not Prejudice."

"At the end of the day, we should be proud who of we are and stand up against prejudice," explains Pride Houston president Meghan Stabler, whether it is based on socioeconomic, racial, gender or sexual orientation differences. "It's a good theme for this year and echoes what a historic achievement Annise Parker's election was."

Parker's victory projected Houston's image as a diverse and tolerant city to the nation, in much the same way as our embrace of the Hurricane Katrina refugees. It's a reputation for which we can all take pride and credit.

Tonight's parade is not just for the gay community. As Pride Houston board member Trevor Eade notes, "It allows for our friends, neighbors, relatives and people we work with who are straight to come and be part of the celebration."

The Houston Chronicle is proud of the accomplishments of our LGBT citizens, and wishes all a safe and satisfying Pride festival and parade.